The Detroit Jazz Tradition - Alive & Well

AllMusic Review
by Scott Yanow

After moving to Detroit in 1966, not much was heard from drummer J.C. Heard outside of Michigan, although he remained active as a player and an educator. This LP was Heard's first as a leader since 1958 and put the focus on two fine Detroit-area players, pianist Claude Black and a saxophonist named George Benson, and Canadian bassist Dave Young. Together, they perform five standards and a couple of Heard's basic originals, plus Black's "Poor Peoples Bossa Nova." The pianist, making his recording debut, is impressive on his feature "If You Could See Me Now," while Heard does a fine job singing his "J.C.'s Blues." A worthwhile LP showing that Heard, despite his low national profile, had not lost a thing either in his playing talents or his enthusiasm.